Buying Your First Drum Machine (Drum Machine Basics) | Reverb

Ready to get in on the infectious electric rhythm of drum machines? We've got models from Korg (Volca Beats), Roland (TR-8), and Elektron (Digitakt) so you can compare and contrast the functionality of these incredible instruments while you decide which one(s) you'll be adding to your collection.

0:00 - Intro
01:16 - Korg Volca Beats
05:30 - Connecting with MIDI
06:39 - Roland TR-8
12:46 - Elektron Digitakt

[adamsimonsen]

Hey everybody. This is Chorus Delay from Reverb. We’ve been gettin lots of feedback and input about...

[NSalonen]

Meanwhile in an alternate universe: Justin Reverb from Delay

[genm]

I appreciate the “Drum Machines Have No Soul” sticker on the laptop.

[animalsoverpeople_]

I love how passionate this guy is about drum machines, it’s great

[rovhallet]

"You might ask, 'But what happens if I change the tempo?' Well, check this out."
*Changes tempo*
Tempo Changes

Wow.

[taylorroe]

usually the people who make videos like these rub me the wrong way but this dude is legit

[jasonbeatty]

I actually really appreciated when you explained plugging in the MIDI cable from the Grandmother to the Beats. So many videos never say what go where, and if you're a beginner, its easy to make a mistake like that. I think these videos are great, and all the negative comments on here are terrible, but you are doing good works sir.

[Gwyn]

Big shoutout to the Volca Sample too. I got mine for like $80, and it hits way above its price point for what you get. The 4MB memory/65s total sample time seemed like ass at first, but I was able to load in 10 each of kicks, snares, and hats, some various crashes, toms, random percs, a whole 8bit drum set, a few random FX, some melodic stabs, and a 16 step bassline to mess with. The fact that if you only went with drum sounds, you could load in entire libraries from many classic drum machines is huge.

If you can find an Elektron Model:Samples for around $200 though, that's the single go to drum machine for the price range imo. Much larger memory, better sequencer than the volca (imo) and better overall control over your sound. Really incredible device

[Laizerdisk]

Never would've expected to get the high-end option in this video considering I never have money but it was one of the best purchases I've ever made

[mykdubz]

this is finally answering my biggest question in my music life: what happens if I change the tempo???

[mb]

My first drum machine was a Roland CR-78...not necessarily because of the time I bought it (as I only bought it earlier this year), but how I bought it (found it at a thrift store)...an interesting machine indeed, especially for being 40 years old, but definitely more basic than most of these nowadays (though I guess it's more of a specific sound that some want these days).

[almamartyr]

Love how you have the Sovtek amp. Quite possibly one of the most powerful and underrated tube heads ever!

[felipeeslavapardo]

To anyone thinking of buying a used drum machine i seriously recommend you check the korg electribes (red and blue with tubes, SX and MX I think, not the new ones) before making any purchase, both electribes have better options and effects, are way more "playable", and all the sound passes through two tubes, which gives it a bit of that analog warm feeling. Two versions, Red: more sample oriented / Blue: more synth oriented. Both have great drum machine and sound modeling capabilites. I have the red sampler and it is loads of fun, has two synth voices, i can see how it would complement the blue, that has 5 synth voices i guess
The downsides I have seen are, the memory is not very big (for the red one, which is a sampler too), so you have to work with short samples to be able to fit many in it. For the blue one i don´t think this would be an issue, since it is more synth oriented, so samples are usually shorter. Also, the card used is not very common, so who knows if it could become obsolete? IDK. And, if you want these new drum machines that connect perfectly to your daw, these are not the ones. They have midi I/O, and midi clock can be set to control or be controlled by other drum machines or midi devices. Also big downside, it is no longer produced and it has gotten more and more expensive, if you can find a good bargain or auction, i recommend you get it.

Nevertheless, I would buy an electribe over any of these in the video, althoguh every one looks for something different when getting a DM, i believe it is worth checking out before making a decision.

[rexterrocks]

I got an SR16 when it came out in 1990/1 and it's still on sale. I think that shows how good they are. If you want a real drum sound it's perfect. I still use one. I like the velocity sensor buttons. It's definitely a more 'human' sounding machine.

[zemarceloalencar]

I'm amazed with so many artists / youtuber's who provide so much information to those who are starting / starting to make music like me.
Thank you!
I'm living for another 6 months in Washington DC and I really wanted to learn how to use drum machines and synthesizers to make music.

Does anybody know how to tell me a teacher? the videos have helped me a lot but I need to make the options available that the technology offers nowadays. Thank you
very much!

meanwhile, I'm inspiring myself with you...

[speciesunknown]

If you are putting out content that is inspiring people to create, then you are doing it right... I would just like to acknowledge Keep on, brother!

[getmoneyhozea]

I REMEMBER THAT ROLAND TR (OLDER MODEL) WHEN I STARTED MY FIRST STUDIO BACK IN 2004...I'M GETTING OLD !! LOL ! MADE BEATS WITH MPC 2000 XL AND A KORG 16 CHANNEL DIGITAL ANALOG RECORDER....THIS WAS BEFORE THE PC DAW'S TOOK OVER...NOW THESE DAYS I ONLY USE YAMAHA, CASIO, AND KORG KROSS ALONG WITH MIXCRAFT 9...MY GO TO DRUM MACHINE IS THE MASCHINE MK3....I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD OWN ONE !

[BrokenBeats]

The Novation Circuit should have been on here, it's perfect for a first drum machine and it's a 2 part poly synth with up to 6 voices! It's a groovebox that stores up to 8 bar pattern banks for each instrument, has a vst for patch creations and it's around £250/$300

[ooO]

For those starting out trying to get their first cheap drum machine. The Teenage Engineering PO-12 Rhythm is a good alternative to the Volca Beats. Its cheaper but you might prefer the more aggressive sound. It also has motion recording.

[bruceglebovitz]

i couldn't help noticing the radio shack/moog synth back on the right. i used to have one and i am always surprised to see them turning up in concert, in virtual (vst) form and here in a training video. what fun!